The
Church of St. Cadwaladr at
Llangadwaladr on Ynys Mon (Anglesey) was
established sometime around AD 615. It was a Royal monastery patronised by
the Kings of Gwynedd from nearby Aberffraw. Their heirs, the Kings of
England, appointed the rectors here until 1920.

The place was originally called
Eglwys Ael, meaning 'Wattle Church', and is most famous as the burial
place of King Cadfan of Gwynedd
who died in AD 625. His remarkable memorial, incised with a small cross,
was discovered near the church many years ago, and is now built into the
church wall. It bears the inscription: "King Cadfan, the Wisest
and Most Renowned of All Kings [Lies Here]".

It
is possible that Cadfan's father, King
Iago, was also buried here. His grandson, King Cadwaladr the
Blessed was certainly a patron and is thought to have retired to a
monastic life here, late in his reign. When he died in Rome in AD 682, his
body was returned for burial at Eglwys Ael, which thenceforward changed
its name to Llangadwaladr. He is depicted in the east window of the present
church which dates from the 12th century.